Besides hardheads are there any other texas fish that can hurt you outside of teeth and fins? Are there any poisonous fish in the Gulf?

Scorpionfish offshore, snapper can have a bacteria that will cause infections when finned. Then there is Infections, caused by a naturally occurring bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus found mostly in brackish coastal waters, are extremely rare and more often affect people with certain underlying health conditions, though not fish related. Green ling brought in the boat can often break bones.

Barracuda can have Ciguatera, a neurotoxin acquired from eating their flesh. Stargazers can shock the heck out of you. That’s right, those fish produce an electric shock and won’t hesitate to use it if you grab one. Squid will bite a plug out of you. Snapping shrimp will cut you bad with their claws.

"Stargazers can shock the heck out of you." They are also extremely poisonous. Stargazer sting is one of the most toxic to humans around the world.

You get harpooned by a ray, you'll wish you took a different path in life. Been with two people that got hit, it's a very unpleasant experience.

Lion Fish......lethal

Have lion fish reached Texas ? I know they are a problem in Florida

caught this one off key west


MO

Lionfish are in Texas, but not in the numbers found in Florida.

Stingrays are more of a concern. A puncture from a stingray is extremely painful. If you get stabbed put the wound in hot water to reduce the pain. The barbs are serrated and can cause a lot of damage or even break off in the wound. The small stingrays will often flip their tails around really quickly and can hit you without warning. A puncture from a big ray can be more serious.

People likely have little idea how many stingrays are out in the bays and surf. I’ve only heard second hand accounts of hits. It varies from very painful to pass out painful.

Five years ago, bud got stabbed when he stepped off the scooter. You'd think the boat would have scattered anything away in 10" of water, but nope, sammy the ray was sitting there waiting for a helpless shin to wander by. It was the most painful thing I've seen in a long time. Glad the ER doctor in Port Lavaca was a seasoned hand, he got him fixed up quickly, but it's a sobering experience.

Hottest water you can stand to put on it if you get hit by a Ray.

Vibrio flesh eating bacteria is horrid if you get it. If it’s recognized super early it can be treated. The longer you wait the worse it is. Google it. Plenty of pics to show how nasty it can be.

Neat thread!

Vibrio generally mostly loves beer and whiskey drinking, over-weight, late middle age fisherman. Probably isn’t anyone fitting that description on this board

I keep a bottle of peroxide in the boat, everyone gets a wash down after a wade.

I guide in the Lower Laguna Madre Bay out of South Padre Island and they are everywhere in the bay! I am surprised i dont hear more people getting hit by them. I rarely ever have a trip without seeing at least 3 or 4.